Community Development District 2 Supervisor Nick Jones passed away Sunday morning, one day after his 80th birthday.
In addition to serving as an elected supervisor, Jones was well-known as a leader of the The Villages Airheads, a support group for those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
“Of all of Nick’s achievements and awards none meant more to him than his years of dedication to promoting COPD awareness and the lack of research funding to help find a cure for it,” said Nick’s wife, Janet.
CDD 2 Supervisor John Blum said he knew Jones for more than three decades. They were both in Tampa when they saw their first VHS tape promoting The Villages.
“This is quite a loss,” Blum said. “Nick is not the kind of guy you can replace.”
Jones was born in Portland, Maine and moved to Florida in 1971. He was the director of operations for the Sun Bank Credit Card Center, retiring as the manager of Lockbox Operations from SunTrust Bank in 1989 and then served as president of JNT Corporation in Tampa until 1996.
He moved to The Villages in 1999 where he was the founder of the Santiago Amigos Social Club, served as a director and treasurer of The Villages Homeowners Association, a supervisor and past chairman of CDD 2, charter member and president of The Village Airheads, COPD Awareness Advocate, Emphysema Foundation Ambassador, John Walsh’s COPD Foundation Ambassador, Transtracheal Oxygen Therapy Awareness Activist, worked as an associate on the COPD Foundation Information Line, Board Member of the COPD Foundation Patient Powered Research Network, Ambassador for the Emphysema EFFORTS Foundation, Board Member of Central Florida American Lung Association, chairman of the Sumter County Advisory Committee to the American Lung Association, Active in the Lake/Sumter United Way, Treasurer of the Welsh-American Club, an active member of The Nor’easters Maine/Vermont Club, a Seniors Against Crime Sleuth, mentor in the Take Stock In Children Program, member of the Sumter County Department of Health Anti-Tobacco Partnership, Sumter County political activist, and with his wife, taught Breathing and Exercise Classes through the Recreation Department and “Living Well With COPD” at the Lifelong Learning Center.
He served on board the U.S. Navy Destroyer, The Sullivans, during the Korean War, spent three years in Vietnam as a civilian supporting the U.S. Army, was a member of the American Legion Post #347 and honored with a Flightless Honor Flight.
He is survived by his wife Janet; daughter Diana Sylvestre, MD (Charles Homcy, MD), Geyserville, CA; son Michael Sylvestre (Cherie), Kissimmee, FL; son Isaac Jones (Laura), Limington, ME; daughter Wendy Taggart (Chip), Levant, Maine; brother George (Mary), New Market, MD; sisters-in-law Beverly Wrobleski, The Villages, FL and Joanne Dowd-Johnson (Ralph), Hudson, N.H.; eight grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
The National Cremation Society is in charge of arrangements. Inurnment will be at the National Cemetery in Bushnell at a date to be announced.
His family has asked that memorials be directed to the Airheads. You can also make donations in Jones’ name at http://www.copdfoundation.org/Take-Action/Help-Find-a-Cure/Donate.aspx
